Admin and Other

For a real dose of Old West tradition, rodeos are a true reality check. They’re a transformation of some of the real, back-breaking work that takes place on a ranch—roping calves, taming bulls—and sometimes the cowboy comes out the worse for wear.

But the contest between man and bucking bronc is always breathtaking (and a bargain for the all-day family entertainment you get). July and August are big rodeo months, with major events all across the country (and in Canada, too). You can even find some ranches with their own rodeo arena (like Malibu Ranch, mentioned earlier this month); for a complete list, click on Ranchweb’s list here.

Here’s a brief roundup of some of the more unusual rodeos this month:

KANSAS
The State’s Largest Night Rodeo
July 18-21, Pretty Prairie
It’s the big 75th this year! Offering the country’s best professional cowboys, top-quality stock, and prime family entertainment, this little Kansas town has it all. For more, check www.pprodeo.com/ or 800/638-2702

MONTANA
Last Chance Stampede & Fair
July 25-29, Helena
Country Music Stars, a PRA rodeo and the Demolition Derby, plus fun family-friendly events like a kiddie stick horse rodeo, an amusements carnival, and more make the Last Chance one popular event. Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds; www.lewisandclarkcountyfairgrounds.com/ or call 406/457-8516.

NEW JERSEY
Now through-Sept. 29, 2012
Cowtown Rodeo, rural Salem County
What? Cowboys in New Jersey? You bet! Come experience Cowtown Rodeo every Saturday night at 7:30pm. Set in The Boss’s home state, Cowtown brings it, with all seven of the rodeo events that are sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, from bareback bronc riding to girls barrel racing. At some 57 years of age, it’s been called the oldest weekly running rodeo in the U.S. For more, www.cowtownrodeo.com/ or call 856/ 769-3200.

NEWSFLASH

I admit I was intrigued when I saw this on the website for Pennsylvania’s Malibu Dude Ranch:
“Think you’ve got what it takes to be the next rodeo star?? Sign up for one of our speed events and compete against other guests during our guest participation rodeos, held during major 3-day holiday weekends.
I knew the ranch had recently added a sanctioned arena and announcer stand so that they could host professional rodeos and shooting competition events (newsflash!). What I didn’t realize was that guests could also star in their own rodeo show!

Somehow I’m not surprised. That’s the kind of entertaining twist Allan “Doc” Detweiler and his wife Phyllis brought to the ranch when they bought it in 2010. In purchasing Malibu Ranch, they saved it from total destruction (a townhouse style residential community was one plan for the property), and in so doing, they saved an East Coast tradition.

And its all been onward and upward ever since. This day, it is 80 degrees, sunny and warm as Doc Detweiler tells me about how he came to own the Malibu Ranch. “I’m the ranch’s sixth owner—the last one owned it for 46 years!” he says. “I hope to God I own it as long!” Doc laughs. “I came to the ranch in 1974 as a kid—I wanted to be a cowboy when I was five. Now my whole family rides—my daughters barrel race.”

Malibu Dude Ranch is located not on the California coast near the iconic movie enclave of Malibu, but in the scenic Pocono Mountains of northeast Pennsylvania, just 75 miles from New York City. When I ask how an East Coast ranch got the name of a California coastal town, Doc explains how the first owner (a rich Wall Streeter in the 1920s) had grown up in the California town and named his ranch after Malibu. Eventually, he opened it up to the public. Today, the 800-acre ranch offers something for all ages and tastes- from archery to fishing, skeet shooting and horseback riding galore.

Established in 1928, the ranch has a long history of entertaining guests: it is described as the oldest authentic working dude ranch east of the Mississippi River. Thanks to Doc and Phyllis, it still provides the Old West cowboy experience and horseback riding on woodland trails. The ranch suffered a fire in 1973 that took out the original lodge, but the massive two-story stone fireplace in the lobby is a survivor; it showcases the grand entrance to the lodge just as it always did.

Doc first visited the ranch as a youngster not long after the rebuilding that resulted from the fire. That ranch stay molded his young character and he credits it with helping him stay focused on goals later in life. Eventually, Allan became a doctor of family medicine with a main practice is in Long Island, New York (he also employs many physicians in five locations in New York, New Jersey, and Florida).

“I feel this ranch is a legacy, so there’s an obligation to keep this up,” Doc notes. “We’ve put in more than $4 million to renovate the ranch. We updated the entire infrastructure and added the arena, brought our own cattle onto the property, and added a Wild West show for the kids. Everyone who comes leaves pleased.” Doc knows the timing of the ranch’s purchase—during a tough economy—wasn’t in his favor but he’s hoping that the economy will soon turn around and “we’ll reap the rewards.” Now the biggest hurdle is to let the public know (and that’s where Ranchweb can help).

Saddle up (and other diversions)
There’s horseback riding, a Saturday night bonfire and hayride, fishing or row boating out on the lake if you’re into nature. If you’re not so much into the great outdoors, there’s always tennis or basketball, horseshoes, board games, and an indoor pool. In the evening, hang out at the country western nightclub or check out the cable TV on a flat screen.

Not into horses? That’s okay: ride the trails on your own ATV or snowmobile. Enjoy stargazing in the ranch’s clear night skies; shoot skeet or archery on the rifle range (the ranch also offers a hunter package the first three days of the deer rifle season). Golfing is 15 minutes away. Any season, there’s plenty of fun at the Malibu Ranch.

“Come cowboy with us and keep the tradition of an East Coast ranch alive!” Doc says. “We’re only an hour’s drive from Manhattan, about two hours from Philadelphia, and three hours from Boston.”

Details: Malibu Dude Ranch is set in the Pocono Mountains of northeast Pennsylvania, a 3-mile drive from Milford and 75 miles from NYC. It makes a great location for family vacations, reunions, and anniversaries and is a place for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to earn merit badges (ask about group rates). Stay in private cabins among the trees, chalet and motel style rooms near the main lodge, or in the lodge itself. Not ready for a full commitment yet? Ride the ranch’s horses by the hour, take lessons, or bring your own and board your horse here.

TIPS FROM THE RANCHERS

If you haven’t stopped by the Ranchweb Facebook page lately, give it a try. You’ll connect with some awesome people and enjoy their exchanges. They’re moms, dads, kids, ranch owners, horse lovers and lovers of all things Western, from Patsy Cline to polo.

Our Facebook fans are thoughtful, funny, philosophical, kind, upbeat, and enthusiastic. You’ll find everything from a kid’s first reaction to a dude ranch stay, to video of a bison roundup, tips from ranchers, a blog story about a romance, and amazing photos.

Here’s a sample of some of the more interesting thoughts posted on our Facebook home page recently:
#
Red Rock Ranch
We had a wonderful first week!! I would like to share a statement by one of our guests, Ronny (10 yrs old) – Mom, this is so much better than a hotel, you get to know everyone, they like.. all become your friends.. it is so cool. To me that sums up a great first time dude ranch visit. Doug.
#
Horsecity.com
“Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
#
Zapata Ranch added a video from June 2012 to their timeline.
We moved a few cows and a handful of yearlings to a new pasture this morning and left them enjoying the lush grass surrounding the the pond.

# Vista Verde Ranch
Congratulations to newly engaged couple, Kelly & Mike! We were are honored to have been part of your special moment…

(a link to the blogstory about the romance followed)

#
White Stallion Ranch, Tucson, AZ
Our world and our lives have become increasingly interdependent, so when our neighbour is harmed, it affects us too. Therefore we have to abandon outdated notions of “them” and “us” and think of our world much more in terms of a great “US”, a greater human family.
~ dalai lama~
#
Horseshoe Canyon Guest Ranch
The great thing about a dude ranch vacation is you can wear yourself out or just sit back and relax.
#
Three Bars Cattle and Guest Ranch
Welcome to all of our new fans 🙂 It’s the start of another great week here at three bars 🙂 the weather is beautiful today and the horses are enjoying their days off out on pasture!
#
Rankin Ranch
This evening was our first summer Steak Fry in front of the original Rankin home. It is such a gorgeous evening.

Details: Just sign up to Facebook if you haven’t already (it’s free), and give the Facebook.com/Ranchweb site a try by hitting the Like button. You get messages about deals, inspirational thoughts, horse news, ranch news, and some awesome pix.

Welcome!

Welcome to Gene Kilgore's world of Dude and Guest Ranching. Planning a dude ranch vacation, fly fishing trip, or girls getaway? Then saddle up and ride with us! A leader in the world of ranching, Kilgore and award-winning writer Lora Finnegan share RANCH NEWS, TIPS FOR MOMS, FOOD AND WINE INFO, plus RANCHER PROFILES AND RANCH REVIEWS.